Thailand cave rescue live: No rescue attempt until boys learn to use diving equipment, says top official

Former navy SEAL diver dies trying to prepare for boys' rescue as threat of new rains is imminent

Missing Thai boys found trapped in cave with their football coach

Authorities in Thailand say they cannot immediately attempt an underwater evacuation of free 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave in Thailand, as the children have not yet learnt to use dive equipment. That is despite imminent new rainstorms threatening to undo all their best efforts to drain water from the cave network.

The official in immediate charge of the operation, Governor Narongsak Osatanakorn, indicated strongly at a midnight news conference that if heavy rains started and appeared to be causing flooded areas in the cave to rise again, they would try to take the boys out with divers right away.

In addition to the rains, a new urgent threat has emerged in the form of reduced oxygen levels in the chamber where the boys are trapped. The navy SEAL commander leading the operation said today: “We originally thought the boys can stay safe inside the cave for quite some time but circumstances have changed. We have a limited amount of time.”

The dangers involved in getting the boys out of the cave were emphasised overnight when an experienced diver, 38-year-old former navy SEAL Saman Gunan, died after falling unconscious underwater. He is to be given a royal-sponsored funeral.

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Authorities have been racing to pump out water from the cave before more storms hit the region in the coming days and send water levels rising again.

At this time though, the only way for the boys to get out of the cave is by diving, something cave rescue experts warn is extremely dangerous even for those with experience.

Friday’s death of the former Seal underscores those risks. The diver was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters along the route divers must take to get to the children, navy SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew said.

The strategically placed canisters allow divers to stay under water for longer during what is about a five-hour trip to reach the stranded team.

While underwater, the rescuer passed out and efforts to resuscitate him failed, Mr Arpakorn said.

Another navy official said he did not believe the man’s oxygen tank ran out.

“Despite this, we will continue until we accomplish our mission,” Mr Arpakorn said.

Key Points

• Former navy SEAL dies trying to rescue trapped boys
• Elon Musk comes up with bizarre solution to the situation
• Officials rule out rescue operation until boys learn how to dive sufficiently

[6 July 2018 18:21 · Andrew Buncombe]

Asked if they will try to bring out the boys tonight, as was previously reported, the governor said: "We will try to set the best plan. If the risk is minimal, we will try. We are afraid of the weather and the oxygen in the cave. We have to try to set the plan and find which plan is the best."

[6 July 2018 18:22 · Andrew Buncombe]

According to journalist Jacob Goldberg, the governor said divers who came out of the cave at 9pm tonight (local time) reported that the boys were in good health

[6 July 2018 18:22 · Andrew Buncombe]

“If it rains, and the situation is not good, we will try to bring the boys out.”

[6 July 2018 18:25 · Andrew Buncombe]

The governor, Narongsak Osottanakorn, said the boys had already been trying to learn out to use diving equipment.

According to journalist Pichayada P, of Channel News Asia, he said: “Children are learning how to dive. We'd like minimum risk. But we can't wait until it rains heavily and worsens the situation. If that happens, we'll need to reassess. The key thing is the kids' readiness to dive.”

[6 July 2018 18:26 · Andrew Buncombe]

Asked if he will try to rescue the boys today should the rain begin to fall, he said they will not try and do so. "They cannot dive at this time."

[6 July 2018 18:27 · Andrew Buncombe]

And that seems to be it. The governor appears to be leaving: 

[6 July 2018 18:37 · Andrew Buncombe]

So, to recap, it seems officials have ruled out any rescue operation until the young boys learn how to dive to some level of proficiency: 

[6 July 2018 18:40 · Andrew Buncombe]

Jonathan Head, the BBC's longtime Thailand correspondent, has this update: 

[6 July 2018 18:56 · Andrew Buncombe]

For those wondering why Elon Musk has become involved in the rescue operation: 

[6 July 2018 19:13 · Steve Anderson]

  ↵The South East Asia correspondent for the Australian newspaper has some more on the boys’ contact with their families. The Chiang Rai governor, Mr Narongsak Osottanakorn said he was also in daily contact with the relatives.